Electoral fraud

She told the New Statesman magazine there were "at least three seats where we lost, where we didn't gain the seat, based on electoral fraud" and said the problems were "predominantly within the Asian community".

BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said electoral fraud was a "particular concern".

He said the the issue of corruption in certain communities was "sensitive territory" for politicians, and that the attorney general was "careful to qualify" his comments by saying the problem was not restricted to one minority.

In his interview with the newspaper, Mr Grieve also said he was "very optimistic about the future of the UK".

"We have managed integration of minority communities better than most countries in Europe," he said.

But he warned the UK's infrastructure could be put under strain if large numbers of people from Romania and Bulgaria come to the country when immigration controls expire in January.